The wife and two sons of a slain Alberta farmer are accused of concealing his body in a toolbox and sinking it in a dugout, according to court records.

The remains of Miles Naslund, 49, were discovered in a body of water on his family's farm near Holden, Alta., earlier this month, nearly six years after his disappearance.

His wife, Helen Naslund, 52, and son, Neil Naslund, 25, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder and offering an indignity to a dead body.

According to court records, the offering an indignity charges relate to allegations that Helen Naslund and Neil Naslund put the farmer's body in a tool box and sunk it in a dugout "on or about" Sept. 5, 2011.

Miles Naslund was reported missing on Sept. 6, 2011. The nearby Tofield RCMP said the case was opened when he didn't return home from his daily work as a farmer.

Another son, Wes Naslund, 32, was charged with one count of accessory to a murder after the fact and one count of offering an indignity to a dead body based on allegations that he assisted his mother and brother with concealing evidence and participated in disposing of the body in the dugout.

According to RCMP, investigators received a tip about evidence of a homicide at the farm. During the execution of a search warrant, RCMP divers recovered Naslund's remains from the water on Sept. 1.

All three accused were taken into custody. Wes Naslund has been released on bail.

At a brief hearing on Wednesday, defence lawyer Greg Worobec set dates for Helen Naslund and Neil Naslund to seek bail — she is to appear Sept. 20, and her son will have his own hearing Sept. 21.

Worbec is also representing Wes Naslund, whose next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 26 in Fort Saskatchewan.

Holden is about 100 km southeast of Edmonton and 35 km southeast of Tofield.